Opinion: Deputy DNC chair should be held responsible for relationship with hate-monger

by Boris Epshteyn, Chief Political Analyst

(MGN Online)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Boris Epshteyn formerly served as a Senior Advisor to the Trump Campaign and served in the White House as Special Assistant to The President and Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations.

WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - Deputy DNC Chair Congressman Keith Ellison had a private dinner with the leader of the Nation of Islam Louis Farrakhan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2013. Why does that matter?

Well, Farrakhan has been widely reported as racist and anti-Semite. He has called Adolf Hitler a "very great man." He has referred to Judaism as a gutter religion. He has said that white people are sub-human.

Congressman Ellison has been a long-time supporter of Farrakhan. In the 1980’s and 1990’s Ellison, writing under the pen name Keith Hakim, repeatedly praised Farrakhan, including calling him "a role model for black youth.”

Ellison did apologize to Jewish leaders when he ran for Congress in 2006. He claimed to have rejected the Nation of Islam and its leader Farrakhan.

If that’s the case, why was Ellison at a dinner and discussion with Farrakhan and the president of Iran, no less?

Ellison has put out a statement that says in part that he was there to discuss issues, such as Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Ellison was not the only Democrat congressman at the event in 2013. He is also not the only Democrat to be way too cozy with Farrakhan. Pictures have recently surfaced on Twitter of Congresswoman Maxine Waters hugging Farrakhan in 2006.

Here is the bottom line: can you imagine if the deputy chair of the Republican National Committee had been at a dinner with hate groups whom he had supported? Media outlets would, correctly, sound a four alarm fire and that person would, rightfully, have to resign. Where is the same level of outrage and condemnation over closeness of certain Democrats with the hateful Louis Farrakhan? It is due to this double standard that embarrassing public officials, such as Keith Ellison and Maxine Waters, are allowed to remain in office.